How should I keep tapering?

September 18, 2026··

Posted in:Symptoms & Self-Care Tapering Valium (Diazepam)

My starting dose of Valium is 10mg. 5 in morning and 5 in evening. I started my taper on Sept 2. I removed 1/4 of my evening dose. Today I started my second taper of removing 1/4 of my morning dose. Should I keep alternating or should I be tapering morning and evening dose? It’s been quite a ride these last months of stopping klonopin, moving to hellish six weeks of Ativan and begging to switch to Valium. All started a year ago with tapering klonopin. So now here I am and I feel my dr is doing his best but has no idea!! Your advice would be so helpful.

Valium — 10mg — 2 months — actively tapering | without clinician

2 Replies

songbirdSep 23

Valium · holding

I didn’t realise tapering that slow was a thing when I dropped from 10-5mg of Diaz. I dropped my 10mg to 5mg. I didn’t think twice about anything else. Now I’m wondering if I should’ve changed it but I don’t want to go back. For me, I just cut out the evening dose and kept the morning dose to help with my cortisol spikes. The longer half life of diazepam keeps you covered until you dose again the next morning/evening dose even if you do decide to go on a slower tapering trajectory.

Valium — 2 years, 2 months — holding | Topamax — 25mg — 3 years, 3 months — actively tapering | other — 3mcg — 3 years, 9 months — supporting others | other — 30mg — 3 years, 3 months — supporting others

Overthis66Sep 23

WelcomerValium · active

@songbird, if I were to cut that much after the switches I’ve been through it would be too drastic. That 1/4 cut was ugly. How long were you taking 10mg? Did you go through withdrawal? Usually not good to do over a 5-10% reduction. So both of my reductions were huge for me. I hope you continue to do well!!!

Valium — 10mg — 2 months — actively tapering | without clinician

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